The 30-second spot (see it below), which has aired since the model’s February launch, was deemed to be "promoting reckless or unsafe driving".

The ad features a young couple hurling the Sport around an empty carpark, its 'hot-hatch' status triggering the overhead fire sprinklers.

The ASB found the ad’s sped-up footage, along with scenes showing the accelerator and a rapid increase in revs on the tachometer, to promote unsafe driving. The car also skids to a halt in the end.

In making its ruling, the ASB cited complaints such as: "the ad conveys the wrong messages to young drivers deeming it responsible to drive at breakneck speed through a multi-storey car park".

Interestingly, the ad also features an obvious close-up of the female passenger's sweating cleavage - a point also raised as a concern in some complaints - but the ASB did not find the ad to be sexist or gratuitous.

“Whilst it is not necessary for the woman to be wearing a low-cut dress, the dress is not inappropriate attire for a woman,” the Bureau said.

A modified version of the commercial is expected to return to screens in the near future.